7 th May 2005

1. Community Gateway 7th May 2005 Nic Bliss Confederation of Co-operative Housing Karen Sarratt Preston Gateway Tenant Committee

2. Where did Community Gateway come from? • creating a large scale housing organisation that was as close to being a housing co-op as possible • responding to the stock transfer debate • does community capacity exist amongst council tenants at point of transfer? • would a several thousand home housing co-op work? • Nic & Charlie in a bar in Manchester!

3. Community Gateway key aims • a tenant/community membership organisation, where membership would mean something • a framework to develop local communities at the level that people might be more likely to engage, on the issues that mattered to them – to develop the capacity of communities • building all this into the rules and structure of the organisation

4. Track One local empowerment Track Two influencing the CGA Community Gateway Association Local Community Areas & community options studies CGA board 7 tenants; 3 cllrs; 5 independents influencing policy CGA tenant (& community) membership Housing options Wider options electing tenant board members CGA Community Empowerment Strategy

5. Empowering Communities reports • Empowering Communities report – 2002 – HACAS Chapman Hendy – Confederation of Co-operative Housing, Chartered Institute of Housing and Co-operatives UK – the theroretical outline of the Gateway principles • Empowering Communities in Preston – Innovation Into Action funded report – the practical implementation of the Community Gateway principles in Preston

6. Background in Preston • big stock investment needs • no real alternative but transfer • resistance to traditional approach to transfer • Gateway – uniting all stakeholders

7. The Community Empowerment Strategy • the first policy drawn up • report on the Community Empowerment Strategy at AGM – members can throw it out if they want to! • £400K per annum to support strategy • Chief Executive directly responsible for CES • CES team manager responsible to Chief Executive and accountable to the Gateway Tenant Committee

8. The Gateway governance structure The CGA Board The CGA tenant Membership Gateway Tenant Committee

9. the role of the membership • election of GTC – tenant board members • CGA general meetings • calling SGMs • the CGA constitution • policy development • CGA board sub-groups • submitting motions to the board through the GTC • major decisions

10. the role of the Gateway Tenant Committee • representing the CGA’s tenant membership (and tenants generally) to CGA board • considering all parts of the CGA’s operations • formal liaison with the board • submitting membership “motions” to the board

11. Local Community Areas • 10 LCAs; 50 sub-areas • LCA Project Group • LCA Task Forces • Community Options Studies • staircase of housing options • non-housing options – LCA protocol • co-ordination of the housing service through LCAs

12. Specific issues • landlord choice • offer document • staffing issues • the business plan • the Housing Corporation • the rules (IPS & charitable status) • £80m major works programme • policies • transfer agreement • offices

13. Preston Community Gateway 81% vote in favour in Preston Community Gateway tenant ballot in December 2005

14. So what’s different about Gateway? • framing the business from the point of view of FACILITATING COMMUNITY • PRO-ACTIVELY offering options • a tenant MEMBERSHIP influencing policy, and ELECTING tenant board members • building all this in right from the start; making sure the resources are there (in Preston, £400K per annum) • a PROCESS to develop a TENANT DEMOCRACY; making the board, the membership and the tenant committee the three parts of governance • community gateway is radical and attractive

15. The Minister’s view! “Preston’s innovative approach to delivering decent homes is a great example for others to follow. Community Gateway provides a practical way of ensuring tenants are engaged with plans to improve their homes, reflecting the Governments commitment to put them at the heart of decision-making”